Robbery, several arrests reported in 16th (Jefferson Park) Police District

A man reported that he was robbed at about 8:50 p.m. Friday, March 27, in the 4800 block of North Milwaukee Avenue, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

The 35-year-old man reported that he arranged to sell a cell phone to a man through a social media marketplace, according to police.

The man reported that he approached the man’s vehicle containing two other men and was providing information for payment, when the man grabbed his arm and the cell phone, police said.

The 35-year-old man reported that the driver was unable to take the phone and drove away and pulled him several feet, according to police.

The man reported that he let go of the phone valued at $1,200 and the sedan fled in an unknown direction, police said.

The man was unable to provide detailed descriptions of the men, according to police.

A man was arrested at about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, in the 5200 block of North Northwest Highway, after a bus driver reported that he allegedly threatened to stab her, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

The driver reported that two men began arguing in Spanish while she was driving, according to police. The driver reported that one of the men began yelling at her, then both men gestured as though they had weapons so she pressed an alarm, police said. 

The driver reported that the man gestured to her as though he was going to strike or stab her in the stomach and she stopped the bus in the 5200 block of Northwest Highway so officers could investigate, according to police.

Officers recovered a large kitchen knife from the man’s backpack and further investigation revealed the other man involved in the initial argument was trying to protect the driver, police said.

The suspect was identified by police as Jose J. Rondon-Figueroa, age 47, of the 8300 block of North Cumberland Avenue, Niles.

A man was arrested at about 9:25 a.m. Wednesday, March 25, at the Jefferson Park CTA transit station, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., after employees of Action K-9 Security reported the man allegedly attacked them, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

One of the employees reported that he saw the man sleeping on the train and attempted to wake him up, according to police.

The employee reported that the man was agitated and allegedly spit at him twice,  police said. The employee reported that he handcuffed the man to detain him and called 911, according to police. The employee reported that he and a second employee escorted the man off of the train onto the platform when the man allegedly kicked the second employee in the left leg, police said.

A name check revealed the man had an active warrant and officers placed him into custody, according to police. The suspect was identified by police as Julian Sanders, age 34, address unlisted.

A woman reported that a man damaged her vehicle at about 4:55 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, in an alley of the 5500 block of North Marmora Avenue, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

The woman reported that she returned home and parked in her garage when she saw a man standing outside staring at her, according to police.

The woman reported that the man was looking into her garage so she took a picture of him and told him to leave, police said.

The woman reported that the man fell as he fled, went to the end of the block, returned with a rock and threw it at her vehicle, causing scratches and dents according to police. The woman reported that the man fled on an electric bicycle, police said.

The man was described as White/Hispanic, wearing a purple hooded sweatshirt and beige pants.

Two teenagers were placed into custody at about 5:05 p.m. Friday, March 27, in the 7000 block of West Cornelia Avenue, after multiple residents reported that a group of four teens were checking door handles and allegedly stole items from parked vehicles, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

Officers located a group of four teenagers wearing black ski masks, black sweaters, and black jeans that matched descriptions and three of the four teens fled when they saw them, according to police.

Officers detained the teen that did not run and detained a second teen before he fled, police said. A resident provided surveillance footage that showed two teens opened car doors and took items while the two teens that were detained stood as lookouts, according to police. The teenagers were placed into custody, police said.

The teens were identified only as 14- and 15-year-old males,  according to police.

A man reported that a teenager searched through his vehicle at about 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, while it was parked in an alley of the 6000 block of West Addison Street, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

The man reported that his fiancée saw a male inside of his vehicle and he fled east in the alley when she shouted, according to police. The man reported that he had left his vehicle unlocked and when he went to investigate, the driver’s side door and glove compartment were open, police said.

The man reported that nothing appeared to be missing, according to police. The man reported that neighbors provided surveillance footage that showed two teenagers on bicycles stopped near his vehicle and one of the teens opened his vehicle, police said.

The teenager was described as male, Black and age 15 to 20, with braids, and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with a large white logo on it.

A couple reported that a shed in the back yard of their home in the 3300 block of North Neva Avenue was burglarized at about noon, Friday, March 27, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

The couple reported that they returned to their home, discovered the shed had been forced open and tools valued at $2,406.50 were missing, according to police.

A man reported that the garage of his home in the 4900 block of West Waveland Avenue was burglarized between about 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 23, and about 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

The man reported that he returned to his garage, which had been left unlocked, and discovered several tools valued at $1,500 were missing, according to police.

Officers found drugs and an ammunition magazine at about 9:45 p.m. Friday, March 27, from a stolen vehicle that was abandoned in the 6300 block of North Caldwell Avenue, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

Officers were conducting investigations for an auto accident and motor vehicle theft recovery, when they discovered approximately 6 grams of suspected crack cocaine and an ammunition magazine containing an unlisted amount of live rounds in the vehicle, according to police.

Nine catalytic converter thefts were reported in the area between about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, and about 3 p.m. Saturday, March 28, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

Thefts were reported in the 4800 block of North McVicker Avenue, the 4200 block of North Narragansett Avenue, the 5700 block of West Wilson Avenue, the 4800 block of North Lipps Avenue, the 4100 block of North Monitor Avenue, the 8500 block of West Saint Joseph Avenue, the 6900 block of West Berwyn Avenue, the 5600 block of North Oriole Avenue and in the 5400 block of North Newcastle Avenue, according to police.

Tools were reported stolen from vehicles between about 3 a.m. Friday, March 27, and about 9 a.m. Saturday, March 28, while they were parked in the area, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

Thefts were reported in the 4700 block of North Maria Court, the 8700 block of West Summerdale Avenue, the 6100 block of West Henderson Street, the 5700 block of West Berenice Avenue, the 3400 block of North Page Avenue, the 6000 block of West School Street and in the 3300 block of North Overhill Avenue, according to police.

The victims reported that tools valued at $21,520 were stolen, police said.

A Portage Park resident reported that the front license plate of his  2008 Mercedes-Benz was stolen last fall, but the incident was not reported until Friday, March 20, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police.

The resident told police that he did not became aware of the theft until he started to receive red light camera citations and impoundment warning letters, according to police.

The plate apparently had been placed on another Mercedes, police said. Thieves are targeting front plates because owners tend not to notice them missing as quickly as with rear plates, police said.

The thieves will use the plates to help avoid detection while they’re driving a stolen car, police said.

The plates may be switched out multiple times, police said.

An employee of Ross Dress For Less, 6103 N. Lincoln Ave., reported that the business was burglarized at about 2:45 a.m. Tuesday, Mar. 17, according to 17th (Albany Park) District police.

Officers responded to a burglary in progress but discovered the doors and security gates were closed and locked, according to police.

The employee provided surveillance footage that showed a man wearing a yellow face mask pushed a cash register to the ground, then fled north from the business, according to police.

The employee reported that nothing appeared to be missing or damaged, police said.

It was unclear how the man entered the building or where he fled from the building. A description was not provided, police said.

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